TRENTON, N.J., Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Shiseido America Inc. and SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) today announced that Shiseido's East Windsor, N.J. facility has been awarded the 2010 New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award. Shiseido won the award for its contribution to clean air in the state, which is attributable to a 1.7-megawatt SunPower solar power system installed on site as well as energy efficiency upgrades, including new high-efficiency boilers and lighting.

The SunPower system generates the equivalent of 80 percent of the 211,000-square-foot facility's electricity requirements. Operations at the site were recently expanded by 34 percent with the addition of manufacturing and warehouse capacity.

The SunPower system at Shiseido's facility is comprised of a 700-kilowatt rooftop solar installation, built in 2007, and a 1-megawatt ground-mounted installation, which was completed in August 2010. Over its 25-year life, the system is expected to offset the production of almost 66,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, which is the equivalent of removing 11,400 cars from New Jersey's highways, according to estimates provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SunPower owns the solar renewable energy credits (SRECs) that are associated with the system. The SRECs have been used to meet New Jersey's renewable portfolio standard (RPS), a compliance obligation established by the state to foster and promote renewable energy.

"We are grateful to Gov. Christie and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for this honor acknowledging Shiseido's commitment to renewable energy and energy efficiency," said Ed Houlihan, senior vice president and chief financial officer of Shiseido America Inc. "In the last three years, we have transformed an inefficient 50-year-old facility into a high-tech manufacturing center providing employment to more than 280 people. Leveraging SunPower's deep experience and technology, these energy projects supported growth in productivity and significant operational cost savings while contributing to cleaner air for the people of New Jersey."

The award also recognizes Shiseido for its efforts in promoting the use of solar power and energy efficiency programs through education and outreach. The company has hosted approximately 100 tours of the solar power system for businesses, government agencies, schools and youth groups. To facilitate the tours, Shiseido installed an educational display in the facility lobby, and retrofitted access to the roof to provide safe and convenient means to view the rooftop solar installation.

"Shiseido has demonstrated how energy efficiency and solar power technology not only preserves our environment, but also allows for expansion of businesses," said Tom Leyden, SunPower managing director. "Shiseido opted for a life-cycle approach in selecting high efficiency SunPower technology for their solar projects and net present value analysis in making its financial decisions. This highly replicable approach is expected to result in superior returns on investment and closely aligns with Shiseido's interests in renewable energy and energy efficiency policy. We congratulate Shiseido for this well-deserved award."

About Shiseido

Shiseido is one of the oldest cosmetic companies in the world. Originating in 1872 as a Western-style pharmacy along the Ginza in Japan, Shiseido now has operations in over 70 countries worldwide. In 1992 the Company adopted the Shiseido Eco Policy, a set of guidelines detailing how environmental considerations should weigh on management decisions. Since that time, environmental protection has been a key effort in all of Shiseido's business activities. The Shiseido Eco Policy includes 1) the consideration of the environment and use of natural resources 2) the promotion of development and application of new technologies that do not place a burden on the environment 3) the aim to raise employee awareness toward environmental protection and 4) the endeavor to work closely with local communities and society. For more information about the company and its products, visit www.shiseido.com.

About SunPower

Founded in 1985, SunPower Corp. (Nasdaq: SPWRA, SPWRB) designs, manufactures and delivers the planet's most powerful solar technology broadly available today. Residential, business, government and utility customers rely on the company's experience and proven results to maximize return on investment. With headquarters in San Jose, Calif., SunPower has offices in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. For more information, visit www.sunpowercorp.com.

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